Kids First Children's Services

23/07/2025

Yesterday, one of our lovely Kids First mums surprised us with a catered lunch. It was her way of saying thank you for the support we’ve given her child 💛

It was a thoughtful, generous gesture… and our hungry team was very grateful (and very well fed!) as we gathered for our Multi-Disciplinary Case Conference.

These meetings are where our clinicians come together to share insights and make sure every child is supported in the best possible way.

To receive this kind of appreciation from a family we’ve worked alongside really means a lot.

Thank you, Kylie. You reminded us why we do what we do! 💛

21/07/2025

🌟 Say hello to Luke Downman, our new Clinical Services Coordinator, and the friendly face supporting families behind the scenes at Kids First

Whether he’s helping families navigate the NDIS process, checking in with those on our waitlist, or supporting our clinicians with day-to-day care coordination, Luke makes sure things run smoothly - with care, kindness and compassion.

With a strong interest in youth mental health, Luke is currently completing a Dual Diploma of Community Services and Counselling. He’s also volunteered as a youth worker with StreetWork at Dee Why PCYC - experience that’s shaped his calm, steady approach and his commitment to making a real difference in young people’s lives.

You might also spot Luke co-facilitating our Social Stars and Social Detectives groups, where he works alongside our clinicians to support children’s emotional regulation and social communication – always with fun, kindness and care.

Luke is keen to meet our families and we’re so glad he’s joined the team 💛

16/07/2025

Confused About When Your Child Can Start School?
You’re not alone! Every state and territory in Australia has its own cut-off date, which can make school decisions a little overwhelming. Here's a simple, state-by-state guide to help you figure out where your child fits in. 👇

Discover when the first day of school is in Australia, including key dates by state like Victoria, plus tips to prepare for your kid’s first day.

08/07/2025

“I enjoy you and had a lot of fun – I’ll always remember you.” 💛
This lovely message was written by one of our Social Detectives to group leader, OT Chiran Nimsara, at the end of Term 2.

Making friends, joining in, and managing big feelings doesn’t always come easily – but with the right support, it can become easier, more comfortable, and more positive for everyone involved.

At Kids First, our small-group programs – Social Stars (Kindy to Year 1) and Social Detectives (Years 2 to 4) – help children build practical social communication, emotional regulation, and friendship skills in a calm, supportive setting.

✨ Two Kids First leaders in every group
✨ Engaging, hands-on activities children can relate to
✨ Simple strategies that carry over to home and school life

📍 Weekly sessions held in Brookvale
🗓️ Term 3 groups start soon – enrolments are open now!
📞 Call (02) 9938 5419
🔗 www.kids-first.com.au/social-skills-groups/
🧩 NDIS-funded families are welcome!

💬 If your child is ready to build confidence and connection – or if you know a family who might benefit – we’d love to hear from you.

07/07/2025

🙋‍♀️ Say hello to Corinna Dixon, one of our popular Speech Pathologists here at Kids First

Corinna is known for her neurodiversity-affirming approach that helps children feel seen, supported and understood. 🗣️ She’s also bilingual, offering therapy in both English and German (a fantastic support for multilingual families across the Northern Beaches!)

Corinna’s trained in many approaches, including Hanen and Sounds-Write. She’s all about keeping things practical - using real-life strategies that help kids feel more confident communicating at home, at school, and in the moments that matter.

📍Corinna is based in Brookvale, so if your child would benefit from warm, skilled support with communication, now’s a great time to get in touch.

02/07/2025

What a wonderful way to wrap up our Term 2 Social Detectives group! 🕵️‍♂️💛
This term, we’ve learned so much about ourselves and each other – from recognising emotions and reading social cues to building friendships that last.

To celebrate all that progress, our Social Detectives made friendship bracelets and swapped them with one another – a colourful reminder of the connections they’ve made and the confidence they’ve gained.

A big thank you to our amazing group leader, Chiran Nimsara, for making each week fun, safe, and full of learning. You're a social skills sleuth of the highest order!

✨ Term 3 bookings for both Social Detectives (Years 2 to 4) and Social Stars (Kindy to Year 1) are open now!
If your child needs support with social confidence, connection or emotional regulation – we’d love to welcome them next term.

📍 Sessions at Kids First in Brookvale
📞 Call (02) 9938 5419
🔗 Visit our website for all the details
🧩 NDIS-funded families welcome!

22/06/2025

Say hi to Amy Jansen-Sturgeon, a popular Psychologist here at Kids First Children’s Services!

Amy is a calm, insightful clinician who supports children, teens and families with therapy that’s both practical and powerful. She also conducts assessments for ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia and Giftedness – and is known for making the process clear, supportive and family-friendly. Before joining our team, Amy worked as a Local Area Coordinator and Team Leader with the NDIS – so she truly understands how to guide families through the system with clarity and care.

🎯 Fun fact: Amy is part of a fiercely competitive trivia team – and rumour has it, she rarely misses a question!

📍 Amy sees clients in our Brookvale clinic and is accepting new assessment clients from the first week in September.

20/06/2025

It's Wendy's very last day with us! Happy retirement, Wen! We will all miss you 😊

19/06/2025

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻?
Because real progress happens in real places – at home, in preschool, at school – wherever kids live, learn and grow.

We travel:
👉 to support the educators children trust
👉 so families juggling complex needs aren’t burdened with one more thing
👉 to build real-world insight that makes therapy practical and personal

It’s not the easiest way.
It’s not the most profitable way.
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

✨ On Monday at 5pm, the NDIS moved the goalposts – suddenly and without consultation. These changes threaten the viability of small businesses like ours and the ability of families to choose support that works for them.

If mobile services disappear, real choice disappears.
Let’s protect what matters.

18/06/2025

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻?
Because real progress happens in real places - at home, in preschool, at school - wherever kids live, learn and grow.

We travel so we can support the educators children trust. So families juggling complex needs aren’t burdened with one more thing. And so our clinicians can build real-world insight that makes therapy practical and personal.

It’s not the easiest way.
It’s not the most profitable way.
But it’s the right way.

✨ On Monday at 5pm, the NDIS moved the goalposts - suddenly and without consultation. These changes threaten the viability of mobile therapy and the ability of families to have the choice to access support where it makes sense.

𝗜𝗳 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.
Let’s protect what matters.

✅ What You Can Do
📲 Sign and share the petition below in your networks
💬 Talk to your local MP – your voice matters
🤝 Stand with families and providers who are fighting to be heard

👉 Sign the petition “The NDIS Cuts Are Failing Our Kids – Demand a Stop Now” which calls on the Australian Government and NDIA to halt ongoing funding cuts and reduced travel payments that are leaving families stranded and with no viable alternatives for essential support

https://chng.it/HRXB58Q9W5